The Summer Makeup Must Haves series is starting to wrap up. Welcome to the fourth installment of the series, if you haven't caught the previous posts go and check them out. So far we have discussed Bases (primers & foundations), Faces (blush, bronzer & highlighters) and Eyes. Now lets get on with our show!

Lips are sensitive, the skin on them is very thin compared to the skin on your face. The skin on your lips has less protection from body oils and sweat like the skin on the rest of you body causing them to become dry and chapped quicker. To protect your lips a lip balm with SPF is a great place to start.

I apply lip balm every morning and night. They are stashed everywhere from my night stand to my wallet. Nivea has been making some of my favorite lip balms of recent. I am sure its purely advertising and packaging but I feel like I am doing some good when I use the Kiss of Vitamin lip balm. Not only does it have a built in SPF it also has been enriched with Vitamins C, E and B5. I like using lip balm as an extra base of moisturizer before using lipstick. If you like a touch of color instead of full blown opaque lipstick, they also make some tinted lip balms as well.

I love a good bright lipstick in the summer, or all year round for that matter. It perks up a simple makeup look and makes a simple outfit pop. I have been loving the Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids that came out this past spring. The colors are bright and opaque and the formula is long lasting. The shade range goes from reds and pinks to oranges and purples. I only have a handful of them, but I would love to get some more. My favorite colors to wear are Vivd Rose, Shocking Coral and Vibrant Mandarin.

A great multi-tasker I like to take out in the summer is a stain. Stains are a long lasting sheer wash of color that can be used both on your lips and cheeks. I love using stains on lazy days, Benefit's Benetint gives a nice rosy glow, but for something paler and more subtle they have a creamy pale pink color called Posietint. My lips are quite pigmented so I prefer the original over the pale pink for them, but I love how the Posietint gives a nice color to my cheeks.

Whether you prefer lipstick, stain or just basic lip balm, protecting your lips and keeping them hydrated is key. What are your favorite go to lip items for summer?